Change is coming, and sustainability is behind it. Within the next decade, the construction industry will embrace environmentally friendly technologies, process improvements, and material choices. Process improvements, technological advancements, and eco-friendly materials are poised to permanently transform how construction industry leaders approach site selection, design, and construction.

Sustainable Process Changes 

As technology advances, process changes are inevitable. Three-dimensional (3D) printing will be transformative. An industrial 3D printer can build homes faster than your crew, and thanks to drag-and-drop programming, it won’t create waste or take unscheduled breaks. You can even handpick an eco-friendly filament.

While wood and metal are excellent filament options, numerous groundbreaking alternatives exist that could transform homebuilding. For example, researchers recently developed a 3D-printed hydrogel that automatically repairs minor damage. It can recover 72% of its original strength after 12 hours. This self-healing proof-of-concept paves the way for innovation.

Environmentally Safe Technologies

How you approach surveying, design, construction, and inspections will soon change. For instance, you could use electric drones to survey and monitor sites. With all-electric heavy-duty machinery, you could reduce your greenhouse gas emissions and eliminate tailpipe pollution while spending less on fuel.

Internet of Things (IoT) sensors for infrastructure and utility monitoring also stand to reshape the sector. You can use them for site surveillance and worker tracking, while building occupants can use them to track power and water usage. However they’re used, they inform you about areas of improvement, helping bolster sustainability.

Eco-Friendly Construction Materials

Conventional resources like steel, plastic, and concrete will fall out of style as more homebuyers become mindful of sustainability. Unique alternatives like rammed earth, hempcrete, and mycelium bricks will take their place.

Alternatively, you can source low-cost, eco-friendly materials like reclaimed wood and crushed concrete from demolition projects. Many deconstruction resources can be reused or recycled without sacrificing their strength or durability.

Green materials like willow tree fences and living walls are also changing the industry. According to the United States General Services Administration, green roofs are up to 40% cooler and last twice as long as conventional roofs, reducing operational and maintenance expenses. This is why they have an estimated return on investment of 224%.

Change Will Happen Within the Next Decade

Process improvements, material overhauls, and technological innovations will happen within the next decade. Research from 2023 revealed 50% of global investors plan to increase their spending on socially responsible investments in the near future. Other studies have shown that consumers are increasingly willing to pay extra for sustainability.

Since early adopters of environmental, social, and governance goals will benefit most, implementing eco-friendly process improvements will soon become a sector-wide race. The adoption rate will increase exponentially.

Homebuyers may not begin to look kindly on companies that drag their heels in implementing these changes. Construction is one of the largest contributors to climate change and contamination, so the old-fashioned methods may be seen as harmful and outdated. Research shows the global industry is responsible for 50% of climate change, 50% of landfill waste, 40% of power consumption, and 23% of air pollution.

Embracing sustainability will improve your impact on the environment, enhance building occupant well-being, and increase your structures’ longevity. Buildings you design with sustainability in mind will have lower energy expenses, reducing operational spending. Also, their property values are often higher since they retain marketability. It’s hard to compete with that.

This Sector May Be Unrecognizable in a Decade

Going from steel beams to mycelium blocks is a massive overhaul. While a decade seems like a long time, making that jump in just 10 years is an impressive feat. Soon, how you select sites, design structures, and build homes could be entirely different.